Device and method for automatic processing of culture plates for microbiological samples

ABSTRACT

An automatic processing device of culture plates ( 2 ) for microbiological samples, wherein the processing device ( 1 ) includes a support frame ( 3 ); a slide ( 4 ) provided with a seating ( 5 ) configured for removably housing a culture plate ( 2 ) and movably mounted on the support frame ( 3 ) so as to be selectively displaceable between a first loading position, a plurality of image-acquiring positions, and a first unloading; a camera ( 6 ) of a linear type, provided with an optic ( 7 ) of a telecentric type and a trilinear sensor, and arranged according to a vertical axis ( 8 ) such as to acquire, at an image-acquiring zone, a multiplicity of linear images of corresponding linear portions of an upper surface of the culture plate ( 2 ), during the displacing of the slide ( 4 ); a first lighting device ( 11 ) orientated such as to illuminate the linear portions of an upper surface of the culture plate ( 2 ); an advancing device ( 14 ) of the slide ( 4 ) configured such as to enable obtaining a constant and substantially vibration-free advancing speed of the slide ( 4 ) in the image-acquiring zone; and an electronic control device ( 9 ) of a functioning of the camera ( 6 ), of the lighting device and of the advancing device ( 14 ).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/739,635, filed on Jan. 10, 2020,now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,913,926 on Feb. 9, 2021, which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/787,202, filed onOct. 26, 2015, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,550,362 on Feb. 4, 2020,which is a U.S. National Phase Application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 andclaims the benefit of priority to International Patent ApplicationSerial No. PCT/IB2014/060993, filed on Apr. 23, 2014, which claims thebenefit of priority to Italian Patent Application Serial No.MI2013A000692, filed on Apr. 26, 2013, the contents of which are herebyincorporated by reference.

DESCRIPTION

The concepts herein relate to a device and a process for automaticprocessing of culture plates for microbiological samples, as well as anapparatus for automatic treatment of culture plates for microbiologicalsamples comprising the processing device.

The concepts herein in particular are applicable for automaticallytransferring culture plates, such as Petri dishes and the like, from amanual seeding zone or from an apparatus for automatic seeding ofmicrobiological samples on the plates towards an incubator, as well asprocessing and enabling automation at least in part of an analysis ofthe plates after extraction from the incubating storage.

The most well-known and widely-used container for solid and semi-solidculture media, on which bacterial colonies can be grown using variousmethods, is the Petri dish, and consists in a plate, previouslysterilized and filled for example with agar (liquefied culture medium)which when cooling solidifies and takes on the cylindrical shape of therecipient.

Therefore the use of Petri dishes is known for seeding microbiologicalsamples, for example comprising bacteria, on culture media, for examplefor enabling a subsequent analysis of any eventual growth of bacterialcolonies on the media with the aim of identifying the bacteria presentin the biological sample and other characteristics of the biologicalsample.

Also known are apparatus that enable automation of various steps of theabove-described process, for example the apparatus termed WASP′,realized by the present Applicant, has enabled a significant degree ofthe seeding process of microbiological samples on the culture plates.

After seeding, the culture plates are inserted in an incubator, for apredetermined period of time, for example 24 hours, after which they areanalysed to verify the eventual presence of bacterial colonies or otherbiological functions, so as to acquire information relating to thebiological sample deposited on the plate, for example with the aim ofidentifying the most suitable treatment for a patient.

These known solutions therefore include an analysis of each plate by adoctor or a highly-specialised laboratory operator, and this constitutesa critical step in the overall process which is highly critical. Thecritical aspects comprise for example a risks of human error, poorrepeatability, the absence of traceability over time of the analysedsample, long laboratory times for enabling a sufficient incubation so asto enable correct identification of the sample, low efficiency and veryhigh costs. To obviate these problems to some extent, partly-automateddevices have been developed which enable obtaining digital images of theplates collected from the incubator, in such a way as to enablemaintaining a trace of the bacterial growth verified on each dish andhelp in some way the work of the doctors and specialized laboratorystaff. These known solutions, however, also exhibit numerous drawbacks,as for example they do not enable obtaining a quality of the detectedimages that is sufficient to lead to a reliable analysis based on onlythe images, do not enable reducing the incubation times, only modestlyincrease the efficiency of the system and further incur high costs.

In certain instances, the concepts herein obviate one or more of theproblems encountered in the prior art.

In certain instances, the concepts herein provide a device and a processfor automatic processing of culture plates for microbiological sampleswhich enable obtaining images of very high quality.

In certain instances, the concepts herein provide a device and a processwhich enable varying the type of images obtained for adapting them tothe analyses to be performed and facilitate the analysis and/or obtainimages specifically suited to highlighting the characteristics ofinterest in the microbiological samples.

In certain instances, the concepts herein provide a device and a processwhich enable reducing the incubation times required for enabling acorrect identification of the sample, and therefore enable carrying outanalysis of the sample in a shorter time.

In certain instances, the concepts herein provide a device and a processexhibiting high productivity and overall efficiency of the process.

In certain instances, the concepts herein provide a device and a processenabling a reliable analysis even when based only on images of theculture plate.

In certain instances, the concepts herein provide a device and a processenabling automating as much as possible the manipulating andtransferring procedures and the analysis of the microbiological samples.

In certain instances, the concepts herein provide a device and a processfor enabling facilitating the analysis and recognition work of thesamples, and which reduce the risk of human error.

In certain instances, the concepts herein provide a device and a processwhich enable reducing the risk of contamination of the collectedsamples.

In certain instances, the concepts herein provide a device and a processwhich offer high traceability of the collected samples.

In certain instances, the concepts herein provide a device and a processwhich are simple to use and easy to actuate.

In certain instances, the concepts herein disclose a device and aprocess that incur costs that are not high and that are suitable forenabling wide use thereof.

These aims and others besides, which will more fully emerge from thefollowing description, are substantially attained by a device and amethod according to what is expressed in one or more of the appendedclaims, taken alone or in any combination among themselves or in anycombination with one or more of the further aspects described in thefollowing.

Therefore further aspects will be described in the following, each ofwhich can be taken independently or in combination with any one of theappended claims and/or the further aspects described in the following.

In a first further aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processingdevice of culture plates, in which the culture plates exhibit a diametercomprised between 10 and 250 mm, or between 50 and 150 mm, or between 70and 100 mm and the seating of the slide is configured for housing aplate having these dimensions.

In a second aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processing deviceconfigured for carrying out, for each plate, at least 2000, or at least3000, or at least 4000, or at least 5000 linear images for each colour,which are composed so as to obtain a corresponding number ofmulti-coloured linear images, in turn combined such as to obtain anoverall image of the culture plate.

In a third aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processing device inwhich the resolution of the camera is at least 500 pixel, or at least1000 pixel, or at least 1500 pixel per colour per mm² of plate surfaceand/or at least 1500 pixel, or at least 3000 pixel, or at least 4500pixel overall per mm² of plate surface.

In a fourth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processing device inwhich the dimension of each pixel of the resolution of the camera iscomprised between 5 and 60 μm, or between 10 and 40 μm, or between 20and 30 μm.

In a fifth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processing device inwhich the overall resolution of the camera is preferably at least 5, orat least 10 or at least 15 or at least 20 Megapixel per colour and/orpreferably at least 15, or at least 30, or at least 45 or at least 60Megapixel overall.

In a sixth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processing device inwhich the monochromatic linear sensors are configured for respectivelydetecting the colors blue, green and red.

In a seventh aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processing devicein which the camera and/or the first lighting device and/or the secondlighting device are regulatable so as to vary the horizontal positionthereof and/or the vertical position thereof and/or the inclinationthereof, or wherein the first or the second lighting device have a powerof at least 10W, or at least 20W, or at least 30W.

In an eighth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a process forautomatic processing of culture plates for microbiological samplesfurther comprising the step of inferiorly illuminating the cultureplate, on an opposite side to the camera, at least in the imageacquiring zone.

In a ninth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a process in which thestep of illuminating the plate superiorly and/or inferiorly is carriedout by LED lighting and/or by a substantially linear light beam.

In a tenth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a process in which thestep of superiorly illuminating the plate is performed by projecting abeam of light inclined by at least 10°, or at least 20°, or at least 30°with respect to the vertical axis.

In an eleventh aspect, the concepts herein encompass a process in whichthe step of illuminating the plate is performed only superiorly withouta lower illumination and/or with the aid of a panel of a uniform colour,preferably white and opaque, positioned below the culture plate, or onlyinferiorly without superior illumination or by a simultaneous superiorand lower illumination.

In a twelfth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a process furthercomprising steps of detecting, with each activation of the tv camera,three monochromatic linear images and combining the monochromatic linearimages to obtain corresponding multi-coloured linear images each made upof three monochromatic linear images and/or wherein the images arecaptured with a timing of less than 1/1000 seconds, or less than 1/2000seconds and preferably less than 1/3000 seconds.

In a thirteenth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processcomprising a step of assembling the linear images into overall images ofthe culture plate and preferably also of a portion of the slide or thestep of assembling the multi-coloured linear images into overallmulti-colored images of the culture plate, and preferably also a portionof the slide.

In a fourteenth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a process furthercomprising a step of obtaining a first initial overall image of theculture plate obtained in a first step before a period of incubation ofa biological sample arranged on the culture plate and a successive firstoverall image obtained in a second step following a period of incubationof the biological sample on the culture plate and/or carrying out ananalysis or a differential processing between the first overallsuccessive image and the first overall initial image in order to producea differential overall image containing information relating todifferences detected between the first initial overall image and thefirst successive overall image and/or the step of memorizing the imagesfor a future use.

In a fifteenth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a process furthercomprising a step of obtaining a first initial image of the plate in afirst step prior to a period of incubation of a biological samplearranged on the plate and a plurality of successive overall images ofthe culture plate obtained in a corresponding plurality of stepsposterior to corresponding periods of incubation for a correspondingplurality of time intervals and/or carrying out an analysis ordifferential processing between the plurality of successive overallimages and the first initial overall image such as to produce aplurality of overall differential images containing information relatingto the differences detected between the first overall initial imagerelative to the differences detected between the first initial overallimage and the plurality of successive overall images.

In a sixteenth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a process furthercomprising the step of verifying the exact position of the slide withrespect to the camera or determining any possible correction of theimages acquired by the camera or determining the exact angularpositioning of the culture plate on the slide by an automatic detectionof the position of two reference elements, or reference holes of theplate.

In a seventeenth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a process furthercomprising a step of detecting a reflected image of a bar code oranother informative element of the plate for determining an exactangular positioning of the culture plate on the slide using the bar codeas a positioning reference and memorizing a datum relative to the exactangular positioning of the culture plate so as to enable a precisecomparison with overall successive images of the plate, taking out ofany angular displacements of the culture plate between an image andanother.

In an eighteenth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processcomprising a step of further obtaining a first and a second initialoverall image of the culture plate in the first step prior to anincubation period, the first and the second initial overall image beingobtained in illuminated conditions of the plate respective differentand/or selectively with or without the presence of the uniform colourpanel positioned below the culture plate.

In a nineteenth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processcomprising a step of further obtaining a first and a second successiveoverall image of the culture plate in a same step following anincubation period, the first and the second successive overall imagebeing obtained in illuminated conditions of the plate respectivelydifferent and/or selectively with or without the presence of the uniformcolour panel positioned below the culture plate.

In a twentieth aspect, the concepts herein encompass an automaticprocessing device of culture plates for microbiological samples, inwhich the device comprises a slide or shuttle provided with a seatingconfigured for removably housing a culture plate for microbiologicalsamples, movably mounted on the support frame so as to be selectivelydisplaceable between a first loading position, an image-acquiringposition, and a first unloading position.

In a twenty-first aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processingdevice further comprising a camera, provided with an optic, preferablyof a linear type, and a sensor, preferably of a trilinear type, andarranged so as to acquire, at an image-acquiring zone, an image of anupper surface of the culture plate housed on the slide.

In a twenty-second aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processingdevice further comprising a further lighting device orientated in such away as to illuminate the upper surface of the culture plate, at theimage-acquiring zone.

In a twenty-third aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processingdevice further comprising an advancing device of the slide configuredfor advancing the slide towards or through the image-acquiring zone.

In a twenty-fourth aspect, the concepts herein encompass a processingdevice further comprising an electronic control device of thefunctioning of the camera and/or the first lighting device and/or thesecond lighting device and/or the advancing device.

In a twenty-fifth aspect, the control device comprises a data memory andis configured for memorizing some of the detected images.

A detailed description now follows, by way of non-limiting example, ofone or more examples, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example device according to theconcepts herein;

FIGS. 2, 2 a, 2 b and 2 c show a frontal view of the example,corresponding to various operating positions of a housing slide of aculture plate;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view representing the functioning ofsome elements of the device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a schematic frontal view of some elements of the device ofFIG. 2 a;

FIG. 5 is an initial overall image from above of a culture plate housedin a slide of the device of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is a successive overall image corresponding to the image of FIG.5 and relative to the same plate after a determined incubation period;

FIG. 7 is a differential image processed by subtracting the informationof FIG. 5 from the information of FIG. 6 .

With reference to the accompanying figures, 1 denotes in its entirety anautomatic processing device of culture plates 2 for microbiologicalsamples, for example bacteriological. For example, the microbiologicalsamples arranged on the culture plates can comprise various types ofbacteria, present for example in biological samples such as samples ofurine, pharyngeal or vaginal samples collected using a tampon bud,faecal samples, etc. In the present description, “culture plate” istaken to mean, for example, preferably Petri dishes, or alternativelyslides for Gram staining or other like supports used in microbiologicaland/or bacteriological analysis.

The processing device 1 can comprise at least a support frame 3. Theprocessing device 1 can also comprise at least a slide 4 or shuttleprovided with a seating 5 configured for removably housing, in ahorizontal position, at least a culture plate 2 for microbiologicalsamples. The culture plate 2 can for example exhibit a diameter ofbetween 10 and 250 mm, or between 50 and 150 mm, or between 70 and 100mm, preferably 90 mm, and the seating 5 of the slide 4 is configured forhousing a culture plate 2 having those dimensions. The slide 4 can bemovably mounted on the support frame 3 so as to be selectivelydisplaceable at least between a first loading position of the cultureplate 2 on the slide 4 (illustrated in FIG. 2 ), a plurality ofimage-acquiring positions (two of which are illustrated in FIGS. 2 a and2 b ), and at least a first unloading position of the culture plate 2from the slide 4 (illustrated in FIG. 2 c ).

The processing device 1 further comprises at least a camera, 6,preferably of a linear type, provided with at least an optic 7preferably of a telecentric type and a preferably trilinear sensor (notillustrated in detail in the figures as of known type), i.e. made up ofthree linear sensors. The camera 6 is arranged in a vertical axis 8 soas to acquire, at an image-acquiring zone, a multiplicity of linearimages of corresponding linear portions of an upper surface of theculture plate 2 housed on the slide 4, during the displacing of theslide 4. Each linear image is obtained at a relative position of theimage-acquiring positions (for example FIGS. 2 a and 2 b illustrate twoimage-acquiring positions).

The trilinear sensor comprises three linear sensors, each of which ableto detect a single colour, for example respectively red, green and blue,and acquire a relative monochromatic linear image of the image-acquiringzone. The camera 6 or the electronic control device 9 of the processingdevice 1 can be configured for combining the monochromatic linear imagesin order to obtain corresponding multicoloured linear images of theimage acquiring zone, each composed of three monochromatic linearimages. Each linear image can correspond to a substantially linearportion of the culture plate 2 having a thickness comprised between 50and 500 μm, or between 100 and 300 μm, or between 150 and 200 μm. Thetrilinear sensor is preferably arranged such as to detect a linear imagearranged perpendicularly to an advancing direction 10 of the slide 4between the image-acquiring positions. The telecentric optic 7 ispreferably configured for providing a depth of field of at least 5 mm,or at least 10 mm, or at least 15 mm, or at least 20 mm, and positionedsubstantially at the surface of the culture plate 2, such as also tomaintain both the surface of the culture plate 2 and the culture medium,as well as any reliefs of a biological origin arranged on the surface,in focus. The overall images of the plate to which reference is made inthe present description are preferably coloured or multicoloured overallimages. The processing device 1 can be configured for performing, foreach culture plate 2, at least 2000, or at least 3000, or at least 4000,preferably at least 5000 linear images for each color, which arecomposed such as to obtain a corresponding number of multi-colouredlinear images, in turn combined such as to obtain an overall image ofthe culture plate 2.

The resolution of the camera 6 can be at least 500 pixel, or at least1000 pixel, or at least 1500 pixel per colour per mm² of surface of theculture plate 2 and/or at least 1500 pixel, or at least 3000 pixel, orat least 4500 pixel overall per mm² of surface of the culture plate 2.

The dimension of each pixel of the resolution of the camera 6 can be forexample comprised between 5 and 60 μm, or between 10 and 40 μm, orbetween 20 and 30 μm.

The resolution of the camera 6 is preferably about 3, or at least 6 orat least 9 Megapixel or at least 12 Megapixel per colour and/orpreferably at least 9, or at least 18, or at least 27 Megapixelequivalent on the surface of a culture plate 2 with a 90 mm diameter.The overall resolution of the camera 6 is preferably at least 5, or atleast 10 or at least 25 or at least 20 Megapixel per colour and/orpreferably at least 15, or at least 30, or at least 45 or at least 60Megapixel overall.

The processing device 1 can further comprise at least a first lightingdevice 11, preferably mounted on the support frame 3 in alaterally-displaced position with respect to the camera 6. The lightingdevice is preferably orientated inclined with respect to the verticalaxis 8 in such a way as to illuminate at least the linear portions of anupper surface of the culture plate 2, at least at the image-acquiringzone. The first lighting device 11 can be orientated in such a way as toproject a beam of light inclined by at least 10°, or at least 20°, or atleast 30° with respect to the vertical axis 8 along which the camera 6is arranged. The first lighting device 11 can be mounted with anadjustable inclination. The first lighting device 11 can be able toproject a substantially linear light beam onto the culture plate 2.

The processing device 1 can further comprise at least a second lightingdevice 12, preferably mounted on the support frame 3 and/or orientatedsuch as to illuminate a lower surface of the culture plate 2, oppositethe camera 6, at least at the image acquiring zone. The second lightingdevice 12 can be mounted in an aligned position with the camera 6. Thefirst and/or the second lighting device 12 can comprise at least a firstplurality of LEDs arranged linearly and/or along a directionsubstantially perpendicular to an advancing direction 10 of the slide 4in the image-acquiring zone.

Owing also to the additional lighting provided by the second lightingdevice 12, useful in particular in the case of transparent plates, it ispossible to improve the recognisability of the biological structures 26,for example bacterial colonies, which develop on the culture medium, andreduce the incubation time required for carrying out a diagnosis. Inparticular the first and/or the second lighting device 12 can comprise arow of LEDs. The first and/or the second lighting device 12 can have apower of at least 10W, or at least 20W, or at least 30W.

The processing device 1 can further comprise at least a panel 13 havinga uniform colour, preferably white and opaque, movably mounted so as tobe selectively positionable below the culture plate 2 at theimage-acquiring positions in order to improve the image detected by thecamera 6 in the first operating condition (as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2and 2 a). The panel is further selectively positionable in an inactiveposition (illustrated in FIGS. 2 b and 2 c ) in which it is displacedlaterally with respect to the axis of the camera in such a way as not tointervene in the detecting process of the image of the plate and furtherin such a way as to enable illuminating the plate 2 from below by thesecond lighting device 12.

The processing device 1 can further comprise at least an advancingdevice 14 of the slide 4, preferably configured such as to enableobtaining a constant and substantially vibration-less advancing speed ofthe slide 4 at least in the image-acquiring zone. The advancing device14 preferably comprises at least an endless screw 15 to which it ismovably connected and from which the slide 4 is drawn. The advancingdevice 14 further comprises at least an encoder for controlling theadvancing of the slide 4. The encoder can be connected to the controldevice 9 such as to enable determining the correct detection frequencyof the linear images by the camera 6.

The processing device 1 can further comprise at least an electroniccontrol device 9 of the functioning at least of the camera 6 and/or ofthe first lighting device 11 and/or of the second lighting device 12and/or of the advancing device 14 and/or of the panel 13. The controldevice 9 can be configured for defining a plurality of operatingconditions of the lighting devices, in particular at least a firstoperating condition in which only the first lighting device 11 isactive, a second operating condition in which only the second lightingdevice 12 is active and/or at least a third operating condition in whichboth the first and the second lighting device 12 are active so as toilluminate the culture plate 2.

The camera 6 or the electronic control device 9 can be configured forassembling the multicolored linear images in overall images at least ofthe culture plate 2 and at least a portion of the slide 4.

The electronic control device 9 can be configured for obtaining at leasta first overall initial image (for example illustrated in FIG. 5 ) ofthe culture plate 2 obtained in a first step before a period ofincubation of a biological sample arranged on the culture plate 2 and atleast a successive first overall image (for example illustrated in FIG.6 ) obtained in at least a second step following a period of incubationof the biological sample on the culture plate 2 for a first time period.

The control device 9 can be further configured for performing ananalysis or differential processing at least between the first overallsuccessive image and the first overall initial image in order to produceat least a differential overall image (for example illustrated in FIG. 7) containing information relating to differences detected between thefirst initial overall image and the first successive overall image.

The overall differential image therefore evidently shows only thevariations that have occurred in the time period between the first andthe first successive image, and therefore the bacterial cultures and thelike which have been produced on the culture plate 2. The overalldifferential image does not, on the other hand, exhibit other undesireddisturbing elements 27 such as for example writing, scratches, marks,which are instead present in the first and the first successive overallimage and which make it very difficult to recognize desired informationrelative to the bacterial growths or the like.

The electronic control device 9 can be configured for further obtaininga plurality of successive overall images of the culture plate 2 obtainedin a corresponding plurality of steps following corresponding incubationperiods for a plurality of time intervals and/or for carrying out ananalysis or differential processing between the plurality of overallsuccessive images and the first initial overall image such as to produceat least a plurality of overall differential images containinginformation relating to the differences detected between the firstinitial overall image and the plurality of successive overall images.

The slide 4 is preferably provided with at least two reference elements,or reference holes 16, enabling the control device 9 to verify the exactposition of the slide 4 with respect to the camera 6 and to determineany possible correction of the images acquired by the camera 6 and todetermine an eventual correction of the images acquired or to determinethe exact angular positioning of the culture plate 2 on the slide 4.

The slide 4 is further provided with at least a reflective element 17arranged in proximity of the seating 5 for the culture plate 2 on theslide 4 and configured for projecting an image of a lateral portion ofthe culture plate 2, provided with a bar code 18, towards the camera 6.The control device 9 is preferably configured for determining the exactangular positioning of the culture plate 2 on the slide 4 using the barcode 18 as an angular positioning reference. The control device 9 canfurther be configured for memorizing a datum relating to the exactpositioning and for utilizing the datum relative to the exactpositioning to enable an exact comparison between overall images carriedout before incubation and overall images carried out at different stepsof the incubation.

The concepts herein further relate to an apparatus for automaticallytreating culture plates 2 for microbiological samples.

The concepts herein encompass an automatic processing device of cultureplates 2 for microbiological samples of the above-described type.

The apparatus can further comprise a device for automatic seeding (notillustrated as of known type) of microbiological samples on the cultureplates 2, positioned upstream of the processing device 1.

The apparatus can further comprise a device for automatic labelling (notillustrated as of known type) of each of the culture plates 2, inparticular by applying bar codes.

The apparatus can further comprise a first handler 19 able to positionthe culture plates 2, coming from a first conveyor belt 20 in arrivalfrom the automatic seeding device, in the seating 5 of the slide 4.

The apparatus can further comprise an incubation storage (notillustrated as of known type) for the culture plates 2, locateddownstream of the processing device 1.

The apparatus can further comprise a second handler able to position theplates, coming from the processing device 1 and arranged on the slide 4,in the incubating storage and/or to collect the plates from theincubation storage after a predetermined time interval such as toreposition them in the seating 5 of the slide 4.

The apparatus can further comprise an automatic and selective openingand/or closing device 21 for opening and/closing the plates with arelative cover.

The apparatus can further comprise an air aspirator 22 and a filter 23,in particular of a HEPA type, able to purify the air at least at theopening device 21 of the plates.

The apparatus can further comprise a third handler 24 able to collectthe plates in outlet from the processing device 1 for unloading theplates or for sending them towards a manual work station thereof by asecond conveyor belt 25.

The apparatus can further comprise a bar code reader 29 able to read thebar codes of the culture plates in inlet and/or in outlet from theprocessing device and connected to the control device so as to enablethe tracing of the processed culture plates and the exact associatedbetween images and samples. The culture plate can be brought to the barcode reader 29 by raising and rotating devices associated to the frame(not illustrated as of known type), or directly by a handler.

The concepts herein encompass a process for automatically processingculture plates 2 for microbiological samples, comprising at least a stepof automatically moving a culture plate 2 for microbiological samplespositioned, preferably, in a horizontal position on a slide 4 or shuttleat least between a loading position of the culture plate 2 on the slide4 at least between a loading position of the culture plate 2 on theslide 4, at least an image-acquiring position and preferably a pluralityof image-acquiring positions, and at least an unloading position of theculture plate 2 from the slide 4, preferably maintaining an advancingvelocity that is constant and substantially vibration-free, at least inthe image-acquiring zone.

The process further preferably comprises at least a step of at leastsuperiorly illuminating the culture plate 2 at least at animage-acquiring zone.

The process further preferably comprises at least the step of acquiringat least an overall image of the culture plate 2, and preferably amultiplicity of linear images, of corresponding linear portions of theculture plate 2 in the image-acquiring zone, each linear image beingobtained at one of the image-acquiring positions, during the advancingof the slide 4, preferably by a linear-type camera 6 arranged verticallyabove the slide 4 and provided at least with an optic, preferably of thetelecentric type and a sensor preferably of the trilinear type.Obviously in a case where the processing device 1 is used for analysisof slides for Gram staining or other like supports used formicrobiological and/or bacteriological analyses, there may or may not beuse of an association with an incubation storage. Further an adapter canbe included to be inserted in the slide for enabling a housing of theseating 5 of culture plates 2 having different dimensions to thestandard dimensions (for example Gram-staining slides).

In the following, for the sake of clarity the functioning of the deviceillustrated in the accompanying drawings will be described, by way ofnon-limiting example.

Firstly, each culture plate 2 is seeded with biological material in adevice for automatic seeding, after which it is sent to the processingdevice 1 by the first conveyor belt 20. The bar code reader 29 reads thecode applied to the culture plate and communicates it to the controldevice 9. The first handler 19 then positions the culture plate 2 in theseating 5 of the slide 4, and the slide 4 then advances towards theimage-acquiring zone at the camera 6 position. The control device 9manages the functioning at least of the camera 6, the first and secondlighting device 12 and uniform colour panel 13 appropriately andaccording to the type of culture plate 2 and image desired (ifilluminated only from above, with the uniform colour panel 13 below theculture plate 2, or if also illuminated from below without the uniformcolour panel 13 below the culture plate 2).

During the controlled advancing of the slide 4, the camera thus detectsthe linear images of the culture plate 2 before incubation, and ahigh-resolution first initial overall image is acquired of the cultureplate 2 in the described way. The culture plate 2 is then closed with acover by the selective opening device and/or the closing device 21 andis thereafter positioned in the incubation storage, by the secondhandler.

After a predetermined time, the culture plate 2 is removed from theincubation storage and positioned on the slide 4, after which the coveris removed and the control device 9 obtains a first successive overallimage of the culture plate 2 in the way described in the foregoing. Thecontrol device 9 can therefore obtain also a differential overall imageable to facilitate the analysis of the growth of biological materialfollowing incubation, identifying the biological structures 26 byeliminating the disturbing elements 27. At this point the culture plate2 can be newly inserted in the storage for a further incubation period,or can be sent on towards the second handler which loads it on thesecond conveyor belt 25, towards the unloading position or towards amanual treatment station thereof.

In certain instances, the concepts herein enable obtaining one or moreof the following advantages. Firstly, in certain instances, the conceptsherein enable resolving one or more of the problems encountered in theprior art.

In certain instances, the concepts herein can enable obtaining images ofthe culture plates and the growth of biological material thereon of avery high quality.

In certain instances, the concepts herein enable adapting the type ofimages realized according to the specific analysis to be carried out andthe specific type of sample, so as to facilitate the analysis.

In certain instances, the concepts herein enable obtaining imagesspecifically adapted to highlight the characteristics of interestrelating to the single microbiological samples. In certain instances,the concepts herein enable reducing the incubation time required forobtaining the desired information from the microbiological samples. Incertain instances, the concepts herein enable a reliable analysis alsobased on only the images of the culture plates.

In certain instances, the concepts herein enable at least partlyautomating the analytic process of the images of the microbiologicalsamples, as well as significantly automating the handling and processingprocedures of the microbiological samples. In certain instances, theconcepts herein can further reduce the risk of contamination of thepathogen agents and the risk of human error in the sample analysis andfurther offers a high level of traceability of the samples collected andthe results of the relative analyses. In certain instances, the conceptsherein are simple to use and relatively simple to actuate. Lastly, incertain instances, the concepts herein enable a cost that is not high incomparison to present costs of the analyses in question.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An automatic processing device of cultureplates for microbiological samples, wherein the processing devicecomprises: a support frame; a carrier provided with a seating configuredfor removably housing a culture plate for microbiological samples, thecarrier being movably mounted on the support frame and configured to beselectively displaceable between a first loading position of the cultureplate on the carrier, a plurality of image-acquiring positions, and afirst unloading position of the culture plate from the carrier; a linearcamera, provided with a telecentric optic and configured to acquire, atan image-acquiring zone, a multiplicity of linear images ofcorresponding linear portions of a surface of the culture plate housedon the carrier, during the displacing of the carrier, each linear imagebeing acquired at a relative image acquiring position of the imageacquiring zone, the automatic processing device being configured toassemble the linear images obtaining overall images of the cultureplate; a movable support of the carrier configured to provide anadvancing movement of the carrier in the image-acquiring zone; and anelectronic controller, programmed to control at least the functioning ofthe camera and of the movable support, to acquire and assemble themultiplicity of linear images.
 2. The processing device of claim 1,further comprising a first light mounted on the support frame configuredto illuminate at least the linear portions of an upper surface of theculture plate, at the image-acquiring zone and wherein the electroniccontroller is programmed to control also the functioning of the firstlight and/or wherein the automatic processing device further comprises asecond light mounted on the support frame orientated and configured toilluminate a lower surface of the culture plate, opposite the camera, atthe image acquiring zone and/or wherein the second light is mounted inan aligned position with the camera.
 3. The processing device of claim2, wherein the seating of the carrier is configured for removablyhousing the culture plate in a horizontal position and wherein first orsecond light comprise a first plurality of LEDs arranged linearly andalong a direction substantially perpendicular to an advancing directionof the carrier in the image-acquiring zone.
 4. The processing device ofclaim 2, wherein the camera is arranged according to a vertical axis andwherein the first light is mounted in a laterally-displaced positionwith respect to the camera and orientated inclined with respect to thevertical axis and configured to illuminate the linear portions and/orwherein the first light is orientated and configured to project a beamof light inclined by at least 10°, or at least 20°, or at least 30° withrespect to the vertical axis along which the camera is arranged and/orwherein the first light is mounted with an adjustable inclination and/orwherein said first light is able to project a substantially linear lightbeam on the culture plate.
 5. The processing device of claim 1, whereinthe movable support of the carrier is configured to provide asubstantially vibration-less advancing movement of the carrier in theimage-acquiring zone.
 6. The processing device of claim 2, wherein theprocessing device comprises both said first light and said second lightand wherein the electronic controller is programmed to control thefunctioning of the first light and of the second light and wherein theelectronic controller is configured for defining a plurality ofoperating conditions of the first light and of the second light, inparticular a first operating condition in which only the first light isactive, a second operating condition in which only the second light isactive and a third operating condition in which both the first and thesecond lights are active to illuminate the culture plate.
 7. Theprocessing device of claim 6, wherein the automatic processing devicefurther comprises a panel having a uniform color and movably mounted soas to be selectively positionable below the culture plate at theimage-acquiring positions in order to improve the image detected by thecamera in the first operating condition.
 8. The processing device ofclaim 1, wherein the camera is provided with a trilinear sensor whichcomprises three linear sensors, each of which is able to detect a singlecolor and acquire a relative monochromatic linear image of theimage-acquiring zone and wherein the camera or the electronic controllerare configured for combining the monochromatic linear images in order toobtain corresponding multicolored linear images of the image acquiringzone, each composed of three monochromatic linear images and whereineach linear image corresponds to a substantially linear portion of theculture plate having a thickness comprised between 50 and 500 μm orbetween 100 and 300 μm or between 150 and 200 μm.
 9. The processingdevice of claim 1, wherein the camera is provided with a trilinearsensor which is configured to detect a linear image arrangedperpendicularly to an advancing direction of the carrier between theimage-acquiring positions and wherein the telecentric optic isconfigured for providing a depth of field of at least 5 mm, or at least10 mm, or at least 15 mm, or at least 20 mm, and positionedsubstantially at the surface of the culture plate, such as also tomaintain any reliefs of a biological origin arranged on the surface infocus.
 10. The processing device of claim 8, wherein the camera or theelectronic controller are configured for assembling the multicoloredlinear images in overall images of the culture plate and of a portion ofthe carrier.
 11. The processing device of claim 1, wherein theelectronic controller is configured for obtaining a first overallinitial image of the culture plate obtained in a first step before aperiod of incubation of a biological sample arranged on the cultureplate and a successive first overall image obtained in a second stepfollowing a period of incubation of the biological sample on the cultureplate for a first time period.
 12. The processing device of claim 11,wherein the electronic controller is further configured for carrying outan analysis or a differential processing between the first overallsuccessive image and the first overall initial image in order to producea differential overall image containing information relating todifferences detected between the first initial overall image and thefirst successive overall image.
 13. The processing device of claim 11,wherein the electronic controller is configured for further obtaining aplurality of successive overall images of the culture plate obtained ina corresponding plurality of steps following corresponding incubationperiods for a plurality of time intervals and for carrying out ananalysis or differential processing between the plurality of overallsuccessive images and the first initial overall image such as to producea plurality of overall differential images containing informationrelating to the differences detected between the first initial overallimage and the plurality of successive overall images.
 14. The processingdevice of claim 1, wherein the movable support is configured such as toenable obtaining a constant advancing speed of the carrier in the imageacquiring zone.
 15. The processing device of claim 1, wherein themovable support comprises an encoder for controlling the advancing ofthe carrier, the encoder being connected to the electronic controller toenable determining the correct detection frequency of the linear imagesby the camera and/or wherein the movable support comprises a conveyorbelt.
 16. The processing device of claim 1, wherein the carrier isprovided with two reference elements, or reference holes, enabling theelectronic controller to verify the exact position of the carrier withrespect to the camera and to determine any possible correction of theimages acquired by the camera or to determine the exact angularpositioning of the culture plate on the carrier.
 17. The processingdevice of claim 1, wherein the carrier is provided with a reflectiveelement arranged in proximity of the seating for the culture plate onthe carrier and configured for projecting an image of a lateral portionof the culture plate, provided with a bar code, towards the camera, theelectronic controller being configured for determining the exact angularpositioning of the culture plate on the carrier using the bar code as anangular positioning reference.
 18. The processing device of claim 1,wherein the electronic controller is configured for memorizing a datumrelating to an exact positioning of the carrier with respect to thecamera and for utilizing the datum relative to the exact positioning ofthe carrier with respect to the camera to enable an exact comparisonbetween overall initial images carried out before incubation orsubsequent overall images carried out at different steps of theincubation.
 19. An apparatus for automatic treating of culture platesfor microbiological samples, the apparatus comprising an automaticprocessing device of culture plates for microbiological samplesaccording to claim 1 and further comprising one or more of the followingelements: an automatic seeder for seeding microbiological samples on theculture plates, located upstream of the automatic processing device; alabeler for automatic labeling of each of the culture plates; a firsthandler able to position the culture plates, coming from the automaticseeder, in the seating of the carrier; an incubation storage for theculture plates, located downstream of the automatic processing device; asecond handler able to position the plates, coming from the automaticprocessing device and arranged on the carrier, in the incubating storageand to collect the plates from the incubation storage after apredetermined time interval such as to reposition them in the seating ofthe carrier; and a third handler able to collect the plates in outletfrom the automatic processing device for unloading the plates or forsending them towards a manual work station thereof.
 20. The apparatus ofclaim 19 further comprising: an automatic and selective opener/closerfor opening and closing the plates with a relative cover; and an airaspirator and a filter, able to purify the air at the selectiveopener/closer of the plates.
 21. A process for automatic processing ofculture plates for microbiological samples, comprising: automaticallymoving a culture plate for microbiological samples positioned on acarrier or shuttle between a loading position of the culture plate onthe carrier, a plurality of image acquiring positions, and an unloadingposition of the culture plate from the carrier, maintaining anadvancement movement in an image acquiring zone; illuminating theculture plate at the image acquiring zone; and acquiring a multiplicityof linear images of corresponding portions of the culture plate in theimage acquiring zone, each linear image being obtained at one of theimage acquiring positions, during the advancing of the carrier, by alinear camera provided with telecentric optic.